Uterine fibroids are tumors, nearly always non-cancerous, that develop in the wall of the uterus. You may have a single fibroid tumor or many of them, and they can vary in size.
Overview
Medical researchers are unsure of what causes fibroids, but they can be common among women who still have their monthly periods. In fact, about 25 percent of U.S. women over the age of 35 will develop uterine fibroids. African-American women are three times more likely than other women to develop uterine fibroids, as are overweight women.
Often fibroids cause no symptoms and just need to be monitored. For some women, however, symptoms can include painful periods, heavy bleeding, a swollen abdomen, achiness, fullness, frequent urge to urinate, pain during sexual intercourse, or lower back pain. In some cases, fibroids can also reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant.
Our approach
We offer comprehensive care and an innovative program to treat fibroids. You see an obstetrician/gynecologist and sometimes (if indicated) an interventional radiology nurse practitioner during the same appointment. These providers' expertise can help you understand both your surgical and nonsurgical options. Specialists at the Fibroid Clinic can offer you the comprehensive care you need to treat uterine fibroids effectively. Depending on your situation and needs, we can offer you multidisciplinary teams of physicians in other specialties, in addition to gynecology, to help you through the treatment process. Moreover, the leading-edge research conducted by our physicians may also offer you additional treatment advantages.